October 1, 2008

Schwarzenegger, True to Form, Once Again Proves Himself a Cowardly Homophobe

In his veto message issued Tuesday, the governor said that while he respected the measure’s intent, he thinks Milk’s “contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level by those who were most impacted by his contributions.”

Why don’t you say the same thing about Cesar Chavez? By your twisted criteria, you should.

How cowardly. How homophobic. How pathetic.

You’ve got quite the steady record of anti-gay vetoes now, and your colors are blindingly clear.

I knew I was right in fighting so hard to keep you from taking over my state.

I can’t wait until 2010.

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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Filed under: 05/22: Harvey Milk Day, California, Harvey Milk, Homophobia, Republicans

September 20, 2008

Text of the Anti-Harvey Milk Day Email the Bigots Are Circulating

What the nasty, stupid, hate-filled, homophobic bigots are sending to their fellow nasty, stupid, hate-filled, homophobic bigots in California.

Now, go do the right thing and support AB 2567.

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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Filed under: 05/22: Harvey Milk Day, California, Harvey Milk, Homophobia, Radical Religious Right

California Action Alert: Tell Gov. Schwarzenegger You Support Harvey Milk Day (Easy!)

Lifting this straight from Gay News Blog:

CALIFORNIA ACTION ALERT: Call the Governor!

Tell him to sign the Harvey Milk Bill.

The right wing has turned up the heat, flooding Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office with an overwhelming number of calls opposing our bill that would honor LGBT hero Harvey Milk with a special day of remembrance.

We need to match their calls NOW if we want the bill to be signed.

916.445.2841

Press 1 for English
(or 2 for Spanish)

Press 2

Press 1 for AB 2567

Press 1 again to voice support.

AB 2567 would have no fiscal impact to the state and would honor an important figure in the civil rights movement, in the same way that we honor other great leaders with state days of special significance. CALL NOW!

I just called, and it took me all of about 15 seconds to register my support for AB 2567. Do it!

California Senate Education Committee Passes Harvey Milk Bill
June 20, 2008

California Legislature Approves Harvey Milk Day
August 6, 2008

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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Filed under: 05/22: Harvey Milk Day, California, Harvey Milk

August 6, 2008

California Legislature Approves Harvey Milk Day

Bill Authored by Assemblymember Leno, Sponsored by EQCA, Honors One of Nation’s First Openly Gay Civil Rights Champions

SACRAMENTO — August 5 — The full Legislature has approved a bill that would establish May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in California, honoring the late civil rights pioneer with a day of special significance. On Tuesday, the Senate approved Assembly Bill 2567 with a 22-13 vote. The measure passed the Assembly last month, and will now go to the governor’s desk for signature.

AB 2567, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California, creates a day of special significance commemorating Milk’s birthday. If the governor signs the measure, California would become the first state in the nation to designate a day honoring a leader of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The bill first returns to the Assembly for a concurrence vote before going to the governor for his signature.

“As one of the nation’s first openly gay leaders, Harvey Milk inspired his community to stand strong and proud in the face of adversity,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “His leadership and courage embodies the rise of our civil rights movement and his achievements and vision will always be an inspiration for Californians of all ages and experiences. We are thrilled the Legislature has passed this measure, recognizing the legacy of Harvey Milk and the important role he played in our state’s history.”

The openly gay civil rights pioneer was a supervisor for the City of San Francisco when he was assassinated in 1978, along with then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. Milk was murdered by Dan White, a former city supervisor who quit in protest of the city’s new laws protecting LGBT people, which Milk had championed. Milk was also instrumental in helping to defeat an initiative that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools.

“Both houses of our Legislature have now honored Harvey Milk’s important civil rights legacy, and I am hopeful the governor will sign this bill so that California officially recognizes the message of hope and pride his life inspired,” said Assemblymember Leno.

As a non-fiscal state holiday, AB 2567 does not impact the state budget because it does not increase the number of paid holidays for state employees or suspend public functions.

California law commemorates the contributions of important historical figures and groups including Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, American Indians and Japanese Americans.

Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.

California Senate Education Committee Passes Harvey Milk Bill
June 20, 2008

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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Filed under: 05/22: Harvey Milk Day, California, Civil Rights, Events, Harvey Milk, Press Releases

June 20, 2008

California Senate Education Committee Passes Harvey Milk Bill

Bill Authored by Assemblymember Leno, and Sponsored by EQCA, Would Honor the LGBT Civil Rights Pioneer Each May 22

SACRAMENTO — June 19 — Civil rights activist Harvey Milk would be commemorated with an official day honoring his leadership under a bill approved today by the Senate Education Committee.

On Wednesday, Senate committee members passed Assembly Bill 2567, which would establish May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in California, with a 6-3 vote. The legislation is authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California. If the measure is passed in the full Senate and signed by the governor, California would become the first state in the nation to designate a day commemorating a leader of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“By passing this bill, the Senate Education Committee acknowledges the unprecedented legacy of Harvey Milk and the importance of teaching our future generations the important role he played in history,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Through his staunch commitment to human rights, Milk, one of the nation’s first openly gay leaders, inspired a community to stand strong in the face of aversion. Perhaps more than any other figure, Harvey Milk’s life and political career embody the rise of the LGBT civil rights movement. His achievements and vision deserve this wide recognition.”

AB 2567 will be heard next on the Senate floor.

Milk was one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials. He was assassinated in 1978, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, by a homophobic colleague with the Board of Supervisors. AB 2567 would proclaim May 22 as Harvey Milk Day, in honor of his birth. The bill would encourage public schools and educational institutions to conduct activities teaching students about this important LGBT leader. As a non-fiscal state holiday, it would not impact the state budget because it does not increase the number of paid holidays for state employees or suspend public functions.

“Harvey would be proud to know that his legacy continues to teach us to believe in ourselves and our dreams,” said Assemblymember Leno. “Given the alarming rates of suicide, depression, substance abuse, bullying and violence against LGBT youth in our schools, the bill aims to give LGBT and straight students alike a positive representative of who LGBT people are that inspires pride and self-esteem rather than fear and shame. That is what Harvey was all about,” he said.

During the 1970s, Milk worked to pass an LGBT civil rights ordinance in San Francisco and helped defeat an initiative that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools.

California law commemorates the contributions of important historical figures and groups including Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, American Indians and Japanese Americans.

Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.

We say:
applause

By the way, speaking of Harvey, here are the latest expected release dates for the film Milk:

Venice Film Festival, Italy: September 1, 2008
Toronto Film Festival, Canada: September 11, 2008
New York Film Festival: September 30, 2008
U.S. limited engagement: November 26, 2008
U.S. general release: December 5, 2008

May 20, 2008

California Assembly Approves Harvey Milk Day Proposal

Bill Authored by Assemblymember Leno, and Sponsored by EQCA, Would Honor the Gay Civil Rights Pioneer on May 22 Each Year

SACRAMENTO, CA — May 19 — Civil rights activist Harvey Milk would be commemorated with an official day honoring his leadership under a bill approved today by the California Assembly.

Assemblymembers passed Assembly Bill 2567, which would establish May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in California, with a 45-23 vote. The legislation is authored by authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California. If the measure is passed in the Senate and signed by the governor, California would become the first state in the nation to designate a day commemorating a leader of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“This historic vote in the Assembly recognizes the unforgettable leadership of Harvey Milk, the former San Francisco Supervisor who knowingly risked his life because he believed that equality would be achieved by living openly and honestly,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Milk was a courageous leader who inspired an entire community to stand up for fairness and justice. The Assembly acknowledged today what our history books have long ignored – that Milk’s achievements and vision deserve wide recognition.”

Milk was one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials. He was assassinated in 1978, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, by a fellow Supervisor who was homophobic. AB 2567 would proclaim May 22, the leader’s birthday, as Harvey Milk Day. The bill would encourage public schools and educational institutions to conduct activities teaching students about the LGBT leader. It would not impact the state budget because it does not increase the number of paid holidays for state employees or suspend public functions.

“Harvey would be proud to know that his legacy continues to teach us to believe in ourselves and our dreams,” said Assemblymember Leno. “Given the alarming rates of suicide, depression, substance abuse, bullying and violence against LGBT youth in our schools, the bill aims to give LGBT and straight students alike a positive representative of who LGBT people are that inspires pride and self-esteem rather than fear and shame. That is what Harvey was all about,” he said.

During the 1970s, Milk worked to pass an LGBT civil rights ordinance in San Francisco and helped defeat an initiative that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools.

California law commemorates the contributions of important historical figures and groups including Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, American Indians and Japanese Americans.

Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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Filed under: 05/22: Harvey Milk Day, California, Events, Harvey Milk, Hate Crimes, Press Releases